Photo gallery: San Antonio’s military dogs

2of28Staff Sgt. Brandon Harrist (cq) gets licked by Ttara, a six-and-a-half week old Belgian Malinois, as foster families and puppies meet for the first time at Joint Base San Antonio - Lackland on Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2013. Through the Department of Defense Military Working Dog Breeding Program, several families provide homes for the puppies for several months before the animals begin formal training. The 13 shepherd dogs were from the first litter born since the government sequestration. About 100 families - civilian and military - applied to give homes for the canines which will be trained as either explosive detection, narcotic or law enforcement service dogs. (Kin Man Hui/San Antonio Express-News)Photo: Kin Man Hui, Staff / San Antonio Express-News

3of28Senior Airman Kristine Thomas (left) holds onto Uurelia (cq), a six-and-a-half week old Belgian Malinois, as foster families and puppies meet for the first time at Joint Base San Antonio - Lackland on Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2013. Through the Department of Defense Military Working Dog Breeding Program, several families provide homes for the puppies for several months before the animals begin formal training. The 13 shepherd dogs were from the first litter born since the government sequestration. About 100 families - civilian and military - applied to give homes for the canines which will be trained as either explosive detection, narcotic or law enforcement service dogs. (Kin Man Hui/San Antonio Express-News)Photo: Kin Man Hui, Staff / San Antonio Express-News

4of28Army Sgt. Elisabeth Wienke embraces Cchance, a patrol/narcotics dog she is teamed with, as he gets his temperature checked at the finish line after competing for six miles with six obstacles during the Department of Defense Military Working Dog K-9 Trials at Joint Base San Antonio - Lackland on Saturday, May 5, 2012. Lisa Krantz/San Antonio Express-NewsPhoto: Lisa Krantz, STAFF / SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS

5of28Military Working Dogs Adoption Coordinator TSgt. Joseph Null, brings military bomb sniffing dog, Diego, an 8-year-old Yellow Labrador Retriever, for a reunion with Logan Black at Lackland Air Force Base, Tuesday, Aug. 7, 2012. Black, a former Army sergeant, was Diegoâs handler for two years prior to leaving the army in 2007. In 2006, they were deployed to Iraq where they were shaken up by an IED blast. Black was able to adopt the lab through the military adoption program.Photo: Jerry Lara, Staff / San Antonio Express-News

6of28Master at Arms First Class Nick Webster, U.S. Navy, carries Fergina, a six-year-old patrol/explosive detection dog, as they compete in the Department of Defense Military Working Dog K-9 Trials at Joint Base San Antonio - Lackland on Saturday, May 5, 2012. Webster is assigned to Naval Air Station Corpus Christi. Lisa Krantz/San Antonio Express-NewsPhoto: Lisa Krantz, STAFF / SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS

7of28U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Justin Treml, who is a trainer with the 341st Department of Defense Military Working Dog Center at Joint Base San Antonio- Lackland, and "Scott" take part in military working dog demonstration during the dedication ceremony of the U.S. Military Working Dog Teams National Monument Monday Oct. 28, 2013 at Joint Base San Antonio- Lackland.Photo: Edward A. Ornelas, Staff / San Antonio Express-News

8of28The newly unveiled U.S. Military Working Dog Teams National Monument Oct. 28, at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland.Photo: U.S. Air Force

9of28Detail of the U.S. Military Working Dog Teams National Monument during the dedication ceremony Monday Oct. 28, 2013 at Joint Base San Antonio- Lackland.Photo: Edward A. Ornelas, Staff / San Antonio Express-News

10of28Army Sgt. Jason Cartwright, the only engineer in the competition, runs towards the finish line after six miles and six obstacles with Isaac, a five-year-old black lab who works as a specialized search dog, as they compete, Department of Defense Military Working Dog K-9 Trials at Joint Base San Antonio - Lackland on Saturday, May 5, 2012. Cartwright and Isaac have completed a year-long deployment to Afghanistan together. Lisa Krantz/San Antonio Express-NewsPhoto: Lisa Krantz, STAFF / SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS

11of28METRO Ð Brady Rusk, 12, pets military working dog, Eli, during an adoption ceremony at Lackland Air Force Base, Thursday, Feb. 3, 2011. . Rusk brother, U.S. Marine PFC Colton W. Rusk, was EliÕs handler. The dog was with PFC Rusk when he died during combat in Helmand province, Afghanistan on Dec. 6, 2010. The family, from Orange Grove, Tx, requested the dog and is only the third time that such as adoption has been approved. JERRY LARA/glara@express-news.netPhoto: JERRY LARA / San Antonio Express-News

12of28Sgt. Rambo and Lisa Phillips get together for Retired Military Working Dog at the 9th Annual Alamo City Tattoo Show at the Crown Plaza Hotel, Saturday, June 22, 2013.Photo: J. MICHAEL SHORT, FREELANCER / FOR THE EXPRESS-NEWS

13of28Lackland-stationed soldier Len Anderson and his military working dog Azza relax between missions. They appear in the Animal Planet documentary "Glory Hounds."Photo: Handout / Animal Planet

14of28Ttrouble (cq), a six-and-a-half week old Belgian Malinois, awaits to be taken to its foster home as families and puppies meet for the first time at Joint Base San Antonio - Lackland on Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2013. Through the Department of Defense Military Working Dog Breeding Program, several families provide homes for the puppies for several months before the animals begin formal training. The 13 shepherd dogs were from the first litter born since the government sequestration. About 100 families - civilian and military - applied to give homes for the canines which will be trained as either explosive detection, narcotic or law enforcement service dogs. (Kin Man Hui/San Antonio Express-News)Photo: Kin Man Hui, Staff / San Antonio Express-News

15of28Thirteen-year-old Anica Basica (left) and her sister Danica, 10, attempt to walk Ttrouble, a six-and-a-half week old Belgian Malinois, as foster families and puppies meet for the first time at Joint Base San Antonio - Lackland on Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2013. Through the Department of Defense Military Working Dog Breeding Program, several families provide homes for the puppies for several months before the animals begin formal training. The 13 shepherd dogs were from the first litter born since the government sequestration. About 100 families - civilian and military - applied to give homes for the canines which will be trained as either explosive detection, narcotic or law enforcement service dogs. (Kin Man Hui/San Antonio Express-News)Photo: Kin Man Hui, Staff / San Antonio Express-News

16of28Staff Sgt. Christopher Keilman, 902nd Security Forces Squadron, trains a military working dog on a bite maneuver Aug. 3 at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph. Keilman was awarded the Bronze Star Medal July 31 from actions during his deployment to Afghanistan with U.S. Army special forces from Aug. 1, 2010 through April 1, 2011. According to the award citation, he distinguished himself through meritorious service as the military working dog handler for a special operations task force at Kandahar Airfield.Photo: Melissa Peterson, 502nd ABW OL-B PA / U.S. Air Force

17of28Navy Master at Arms Seaman James Turner, with Naval Technical Training Center Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, shoots live rounds at a target while Staff Sgt. Brandon Sabolo, 802nd Security Forces Squadron, tries to calm his partner, military working dog Sonja.Photo: U.S. Air Force

18of28Thirteen-year-old Anica Basica holds onto Ttrouble, a six-and-a-half week old Belgian Malinois, as foster families and puppies meet for the first time at Joint Base San Antonio - Lackland on Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2013. Through the Department of Defense Military Working Dog Breeding Program, several families provide homes for the puppies for several months before the animals begin formal training. The 13 shepherd dogs were from the first litter born since the government sequestration. About 100 families - civilian and military - applied to give homes for the canines which will be trained as either explosive detection, narcotic or law enforcement service dogs. (Kin Man Hui/San Antonio Express-News)Photo: Kin Man Hui, Staff / San Antonio Express-News

19of28Bexar County Sheriffs Department Deputy Joseph A. Garcia is pictured with K9 Officer Buster, who was honored at commissioners court on Tuesday after being retired. He was sold to Deputy Garcia for one dollar. Buster is a certified, dual-purpose K-9 - Explosive Detection and Patrol. He is trained to detect more than 13 different explosive odors. He is also trained to search for people and to detain suspects who flee from police. Buster is an ex-military working dog and has been deployed overseas several times, where he did explosive detection and patrol work.Photo: Joe G.Photography / Bexar County Sheriff's Office

20of28Staff Sgt. Mark Devine, from the 802nd Security Forces Squadron based at Lackland AFB, gives commands to military working dog Jany, a Belgian Shepherd, Monday, April 20, 2015, in San Antonio. The Air Force at the Alamo presentation also included a performance by the Drum and Bugle Corps of the 737th Training Group from Lackland AFB, as well as a demonstration of explosive ordnance disposal tactics. Approximately 250 people attended the event, which was held in front of the Alamo. (Darren Abate/For the Express-News)Photo: Darren Abate, FRE / Darren Abate/Express-News

21of28Staff Sgt. Mark Devine, right, and Staff Sgt. Sharif DeLarge, both from the 802nd Security Forces Squadron based at Lackland AFB, conduct an exercise with military working dog Jany, a Belgian Shepherd, Monday, April 20, 2015, in San Antonio. The Air Force at the Alamo presentation also included a performance by the Drum and Bugle Corps of the 737th Training Group from Lackland AFB, as well as a demonstration of explosive ordnance disposal tactics. Approximately 250 people attended the event, which was held in front of the Alamo. (Darren Abate/For the Express-News)Photo: Darren Abate, FRE / Darren Abate/Express-News

22of28Staff Sgt. Mark Devine, right, and Staff Sgt. Sharif DeLarge, both from the 802nd Security Forces Squadron based at Lackland AFB, conduct an exercise with military working dog Jany, a Belgian Shepherd, Monday, April 20, 2015, in San Antonio. The Air Force at the Alamo presentation also included a performance by the Drum and Bugle Corps of the 737th Training Group from Lackland AFB, as well as a demonstration of explosive ordnance disposal tactics. Approximately 250 people attended the event, which was held in front of the Alamo. (Darren Abate/For the Express-News)Photo: Darren Abate, FRE / Darren Abate/Express-News

23of28Angelo Casalez pets 14-week-old Ooswego, a military working dog puppy during a scent detecting demonstration at St. Mary's University, Monday, Nov. 30,2015. Members of the Alamo Nose Hounds club demonstrate their dogs' abilities to psychology students learning about classical conditioning principles.Photo: JERRY LARA, Staff / San Antonio Express-News

24of28Army Specialist Lee Thompson serves as a decoy while training "Ooakley" (cq) the Belgian Malinois Tuesday June 28, 2011 at the Lackland Training Annex (Medina). A new clinic for military working dogs was dedicated Tuesday at the Medina Military Working Dog Clinic to better serve and care for the animals. JOHN DAVENPORT/jdavenport@express-news.netPhoto: JOHN DAVENPORT, STAFF / SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS

26of28Air Force Col. Thomas Ball (left) and Army Col. Tim Stevenson (right) look over the new surgical suite at the new clinic at the Medina Military Working Dog Clinic that was dedicated Tuesday June 28, 2011. JOHN DAVENPORT/jdavenport@express-news.netPhoto: JOHN DAVENPORT, jdavenport@express-news.net / SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS

27of28A Belgian Malinois scampers across a field during a training exercise Tuesday June 28, 2011 at Lackland Air Force Base's Medina Military Working Dog Clinic (Lackland Training Annex). A new clinic at the Medina Military Working Dog Clinic was dedicated Tuesday with a ribbon cutting ceremony and comments made by base dignitaries. The new clinic is over 800 square feet larger than the previous clinic and includes additional medical equipment and a surgical suite that will enhance care for dogs there. JOHN DAVENPORT/jdavenport@express-news.netPhoto: JOHN DAVENPORT, jdavenport@express-news.net / SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS

28of28Airman 2nd Class Robert Throneburg with his military working dog, Nemo, in Japan. Both were evacuated there after being seriously injured in a 1966 attack on a U.S. air base in Vietnam.Photo: Photo courtesy U.S. Airforce

Basic training for military working dogs begins at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, where dogs and their handlers have received instruction since 1958. Read more about San Antonio’s military dogs at the links below.

The San Antonio Express-News covered the departure of Fritzie and other canines for training in San Carlos, California on March 9, 1943. A headline under the photo in the Local News section proclaimed, “Dogs Wanted For Service In South Seas.”

Lackland, home of the Army's dog program since 1958, has stepped up its breeding and training since 2001 to support working-dog programs of the Department of Defense and Transportation Security Administration.